156 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 28, 1878. 



rooms there is a very extensive geological collection, with 

 many antiquities as well. The glass houses which are seen in 

 our illustration consist of a corridor connecting the mansion 

 with a stove originally intended for the culture of tropical 

 fruits, but now containing grand specimens of Latanias and 

 other Palms, and noble Ferns, of which Cibotium Schiedei and 

 prinoeps are particularly noteworthy, the fronds of the latter 

 extending over a space of 20 feet in diameter. Flowering 

 plants are introduced to give life and colour to the scene, and 

 in winter the corridor is gay with Camellias and forced flowers 

 of various kinds. It may be interesting here to note, that the 

 Indian Rhododendron Falcoueri had been fertilised with a 

 deep scarlet hardy variety, and was seeding at the time of our 

 visit. There is thus a prospect of a new race of this splendid 

 shrub being either directly produced, or obtained indirectly by 

 subsequent breeding. Outside, on one of the walls, is Vitis 

 polymorphs, which forms a dense covering, and in autumn the 

 leaves change to a glowing crimson. On the south side of the 

 house is a geometric garden, in which the beds are filled with 

 Savin, Ivy, Yew, Cotoueaster microphylla, and other subjects 

 calculated to produce a dressed appearance at all seasons of 

 the year. A blaze of colour is not desired, but bedding plants 



are not neglected, as there is an ample display of them on the 

 terrace. There is, be it said, a quietness and repose in the 

 whole arrangement quite in keeping with the beautiful natural 

 scenery which meets the eye in this direction where the lake 

 is seen winding between two steep hills densely clothed with 

 trees to the water's edge, presenting a landscape such as is to 

 be equalled at few places in this country. 



But before quitting the vicinity of the mansion for the lake 

 side we will remark, that the park at Tortworth exceeds 160O 

 acres in extent, and that in the pleasure grounds surrounding 

 the house, as well as in the park, are numerous fine Conifers, 

 besides trees of other descriptions. The geological formation 

 is somewhat varied, and Mr. Cramb, who has paid great at- 

 tention to this subject and the effect of these variations on the 

 growth of the trees, has made many interesting observations 

 which it is to be hoped he will some day make public. He 

 finds that all the Coniferas succeed well on the red sandstone, 

 but not on the lime ; on this, howoi'er, the Deodar does well, 

 so do the Elm and the Beech, whilst the Chestnut thrives best 

 on the lias, and Picea bracteata and Araucaria imbricata luxu- 

 riate on the new red sandstone — one of the latter is 40 feet 

 high. Of Wellingtonia gigantea we noticed several fine speei- 



TOETWURTH LOUKT. 



mens, one of them measuring 46 feet high, and what is re- 

 markable, there was a fine tree planted in a depth of soil — 

 limestone brash — not exceeding 10 or 12 inches. The Austrian 

 Pine is here used to a considerable extent for shelter, and Mr. 

 Cramb justly, we think, considers that perhaps no other tree is 

 so well adapted for the purpose. It may be interesting to 

 note, that in crossing the pleasure grounds a plant of Acer 

 rubrum was pointed out to us, and on this the Mistletoe had 

 established itself and was growing vigorously. There are 

 several clumps of Thorns in the grounds, and no doubt when 

 in flower these of themselves are a charming feature, for at 

 the time they were planted every known species that could be 

 had was obtained, and one of them (we regret to say we did 

 not note its name), we were told, had flowered as early as 

 February 1st. Before passing on to the lake we must add, that 

 the pleasure grounds are not only diversified with clumps of 

 shrubs, but with single specimens of Conifers, and that by 

 constant attention to pruning these the individuality of each 

 is carefully preserved. 



We wUl now pass along the side of the lake — a piece of water 

 covering some twenty-live acres, but long, and winding in the 

 gorge between two steep hills, clad with a natural vegetation of 

 Beech and Ash, and the sides broken with perpendicular and 

 jutting rocks. On one side there is just the site for a charm- 

 ing Rhododendron garden, but by no means the soil, for it is 

 limestone, and yet farther on there is a piece of ground of 



quite a different formation , thrown up by some convulsion of 

 Nature. Pursuing our way, with a Ferny bank on one side, the 

 still lake on the other, we come to the remains of an old vine- 

 yard, with stone terrace walls stUl in tolerably good preserva- 

 tion, but the culture was given up owing to some dispute 

 about tithes, and although the situation is high, yet as it faces 

 south, and is well sheltered on the north, there can be no doubt- 

 that Grapes would ripen well in such a place, and quite well 

 enough in any year for wine-making. Leaving the lake we 

 pass to a place rejoicing in the suggestive but not inviting 

 name of Bloody Acre, which is said to have been a place of 

 fight between the Danes and Saxons, and as the position is 

 good and there are remains of earthworks, it is not at all im- 

 possible that the Romans figured there as well ; now, how- 

 ever, it is peaceful enough, and there are planted trees which 

 Roman, nor Dane, nor Saxon ever saw, but which are the in- 

 troductions of the race springing from all three (but mainly 

 the last), from the old world and the then-uudreamt-of new 

 hemisphere. There the Deodar is luxuriating, Cupressus toru- 

 losa does fau"ly, but not so well as on the sandstone, and there 

 are many others which are well represented ; but the lime- 

 stone, which forms the staple of the soil, as already remarked, 

 does not appear to be favourable to Conifers. 



Emerging from this place of former strife, and skirting the 

 park, we overlook the farm, formerly in the occupation of th& 

 Editor of the. iiiricuUiiral Gazette, but now in that of Mr. Cob- 



